Travis Kelce made his stance on the NFL’s standard for penalizing players for their in-game celebrations.
The conversation between Travis and older brother Jason happened after New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard celebrated a first down with finger guns against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. While the gesture was not targeted at anybody, Lazard was flagged for the celebration.
On the latest installment of the New Heights podcast, Jason pointed out the flag and referred to the NFL as the ‘no-fun league.’
‘I know we don’t want this to be like, ‘Oh, NFL players shooting guns,’ Travis said. ‘I get that. But this is so subtle. Unless you’re, like, doing it at a defender, it shouldn’t be a flag. If you want to fine the guy after the game for doing it, whatever, that’s up to the NFL for wanting to protect their league.’
The Chiefs tight end called it ‘absolutely ridiculous’ that a ‘guy is on the ground shooting pointing fingers for getting a first down saying, ‘We’re going that way or whatever he might be doing,’ and received a penalty.
Travis Kelce slammed the NFL for penalizing the Jets over a player’s hand-gun celebration
Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard celebrated a first down with finger guns against the Broncos
‘I just think it’s too much, man. It’s too much and it’s affecting the game in the wrong way,’ Travis added. ‘I get the guy’s got to play by the rules and stuff like that. I don’t want to get the NFL on my ass for saying something. But I just think this is too far.’
‘It’s my second amendment,’ Travis jokingly exclaimed. ‘I have the right to bear arms.’
Travis reiterated how the fine could have occurred after if the NFL ‘doesn’t want it.’ He added: ‘Don’t make it a part of the game where it affects the team. I think it’s a little too much for that.’
Disagreeing with his younger brother, Jason suggested that it would be a different story if the celebration were ‘directed at somebody.’
‘They’ve done this to overcompensate people pointing at people,’ Jason said. ‘It’s stupid. It’s dumb. It’s dumb that this cost them 15 yards. It was playful, look at him. He’s probably making, ‘Pew, pew, pew,’ sounds as he does it.’
Bengals receiver Andrei Iosivas was fined earlier this season for using a bow and arrow gesture
Apart from Lazard, Bengals receiver Andrei Iosivas was fined earlier this season for celebrating with a bow and arrow gesture against the Chiefs. The former Eagles center then noted that Travis tends to use the same motion.
However, Travis clarified that he hadn’t ‘done it in the field of play during the game. I’ve done it as I come out of the tunnel and stuff.’
With firearms and ancient weaponry proving penalty-worthy, the brothers brainstormed on what they could get away with on the field, including a slingshot.
‘I might try that one and see if I get a f****** 15-yard penalty,’ Travis joked.